Adolescents at socio-psychological risk: what is the role of the emotional intelligence?

The purpose of this study was to analyze the role of perceived emotional intelligence (PEI) including its components in the disposition towards socio-psychological risk behaviors in 829 Mexican adolescents from public junior high schools located in low-income areas, aged between 13-15 years. The “Bar-On Emotional Quotient Inventory: Youth Version” (Bar-On EQ-i:YV; Bar-On y Parker, 2004) and the “Millon Adolescent Clinical Inventory” (MACI; Millon, 2004) were used. Negative correlations between PEI and its components with eating disorders, substance abuse, predisposition to delinquency, predisposition to impulsiveness, feelings of anxiety, depression and suicidal tendencies were found. Multiple regression models obtained for each of the risk behaviors emphasized the influence of gender difference as a factor that varies jointly with the emotional quotient and its components in the adolescents’ disposition to the risk behaviors analyzed.